Hand Grenades: Follow Good Practices
By | Oct. 4, 2023
When handling bursting and burning hand grenades, there are some safety precautions you need to heed. Injuries are preventable if you follow the correct handling procedures. Keep reading to find out what to do…...
Small Arms: Firing Range NSNs
By | March 22, 2023
This article initially appeared in PS 762 (May 16). With spring comes trips to the firing range. Here’s a list of NSNs you may need to run your range successfully. Keep reading to get the list…...
Small Arms: Replacing Lower Receiver?
By | Feb. 28, 2023
When the lower receiver is changed out, the job isn’t done until the paperwork is complete. Keep reading to see what must be done…...
Small Arms and Ammunition: Keep Good Accountability
By | Jan. 30, 2023
Lost or stolen military weapons and ammo could end up in the wrong hands and used indiscriminately. Do your part to stop this from happening by maintaining proper accountability of weapons and munitions entrusted to your...
Half-Mast Sends: Keep on Trucking
By | Jan. 26, 2023
The war in Ukraine is offering a lot of lessons. The question is: Are we learning them? An informative CNN article offers some insights on the importance of maintenance and logistics basics that are worth heeding. And we...
PS Magazine Year-In-Review: Top 10 Website Downloads
By | Jan. 13, 2023
The PS Magazine website features helpful documents, posters and charts that were downloaded over 80,000 times. You might be interested to learn what the most downloaded items were. Read on to find out...
Small Arms: Does Your Weapon Need LAW Instead of CLP?
By | Dec. 7, 2022
When operating your weapon in extremely cold weather environments, CLP may not be the right lubricant. Keep reading to find out how to determine if you need to use lubricating oil arctic weapons (LAW)…...
Small Arms: Deployment and Pre-Embarkation Checks
By | Aug. 2, 2022
There’s a limit on how long pre-embarkation checks on unit weapons are valid, and firing range events have an impact on when to perform these checks before your unit deploys. Keep reading to learn more...
Small Arms: Don’t Disassemble Weapons Beyond TM Task
By | May 25, 2022
Please remind operators and leaders to only perform the authorized level of maintenance. This will ensure proper functioning and help prevent unnecessary damage to the weapon or possible harm to Soldiers...
Set Up a Virtual TDY with PS Magazine
By | March 3, 2022
PS Magazine was created in 1951 to help Soldiers with maintenance and logistics issues. We’re still here to help after 70 years and we’d like to invite combat, combat support and combat service support units across the Army...
Corrosion: New Documents Published
By | Feb. 25, 2022
Corrosion is an ongoing battle. To ensure this menace never wins the day, two new corrosion policy and procedures publications are available...
Ammunition: Cold Weather Affects Performance
By | Feb. 23, 2022
Soldiers, we told you how ammo performs when it’s hot, and now it’s time to tell you what happens when it’s cold. Keep reading to see how cold weather affects your ammo’s performance...
Small Arms: 2021 Year-in-Review
By | Jan. 25, 2022
This article highlights small arms-related articles from 2021 and some of the information readers found most useful...
P-D-680/CID A-A-59601 Cleaning Solvent Is a NO-GO!
By | Jan. 5, 2022
P-D-680, also known as CID A-A-59601, contains harmful chemicals that adversely affect the environment. Bottom line: P-D-680 is NOT the same as MIL-PRF-680! This article applies to tactical vehicles and small arms, to read on...
Small Arms: GTAs to the Rescue
By | Dec. 6, 2021
Armorers, there are graphic training aids (GTAs) to help teach Soldiers what parts go where on their weapon. The GTAs show the parts breakdown of several rifles, machine guns and pistols...
Small Arms: Store Only Clean Weapons in the Arms Room
By | Nov. 23, 2021
Commanders, leaders and Soldiers, after a long day at the range, everyone wants to turn in their weapon and go home. But that’s not the right thing to do. It’s critical that all weapons are thoroughly cleaned and lubricated...
PS Magazine: A Trusted Source for Readiness Information
By | July 20, 2021
For 70 years, Soldiers—as well as other service personnel—have relied on PS Magazine to get the late-breaking, correct information they need to keep their fleets combat ready. Still, a question continues to pop up in motor...
Small Arms: How to Treat Your Weapon When It’s Hot
By | May 28, 2021
All heat isn’t the same. You have to make slight adjustments to how you care for your weapon depending on the environment. Here are some tips for the three (3) types of hot weather. ...
Leader Interview: Mr Hess - TACOM Small Arms Group Leader
By | March 4, 2021
MSG Half-Mast recently visited Warren Michigan the home of Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) to speak with Scott Hess, the Weapons Product Support Integration Directorate Small Arms Group Leader, about small arms...
Ammunition: Report Malfunctions!
By | March 2, 2021
Soldiers, it doesn’t matter if you’re training in CONUS or OCONUS, firing small arms, using explosives or firing an M1 Abrams, ammo should work the first time, all of the time. The first thing to do after a round doesn’t fire...
Don’t Spin Our Wheels!
By | Feb. 23, 2021
This article initially appeared in PS 759 (May 16), p. 1. PS Magazine gets lots of maintenance and supply questions each month. Sometimes we can send out an immediate answer. Other times, those answers take a couple days to a...
PS Magazine: Help Us Help You
By | Dec. 23, 2020
Each day, emails from Soldiers and DoD civilians all over the world come into PS Magazine seeking answers to challenges they're facing while maintaining their vehicles and equipment. And each day, Half-Mast or a member of his...
UTAP: You’re Just a Click Away!
By | Nov. 17, 2020
This article initially appeared in PS 798 (May 19), p. 20-21. TACOM’s Unit Training Assistance Program, UTAP, provides approved training materials for a variety of TACOM-managed equipment...
Small Arms: Ammunition Must be Clean and Dry
By | Oct. 29, 2020
Soldiers, word from the field is that some of you are reporting M16 and M4 bolt damage. The bolt locking lugs are cracking, breaking off, causing weapon stoppages, and creating a risk of injury and weapon damage...
Small Arms: Cleaning Tanks Do’s and Don’ts
By | Oct. 21, 2020
This article initially appeared in PS 784 (Mar 18), p. 42. Units are better off never using cleaning tanks for their weapons, mainly because it’s too easy to mix up bolts when many weapons are run through the tanks. Read on...
Small Arms: How Often Should Weapons Be Cleaned?
By | Oct. 21, 2020
This article initially appeared in PS 784 (Mar 18), p. 41. Dear Half-Mast, Page 37 in PS 764(Jul 16) said that at least every 90 days an M16 rifle or M4 carbine should be cleaned and lubed. Is that true for all the weapons?...
Small Arms: Quarterly Inspection Exception to Policy
By | Sept. 24, 2020
Commanders and unit armorers, have you heard about the new exception to policy for quarterly services on small arms weapons? The Deputy Chief of Staff G4 has granted unit-level armorers who aren’t MOS 91F permission to...
Small Arms: Security and Handling Tips
By | Aug. 18, 2020
Dear Editor, When Soldiers transport small arms to the shop for maintenance, they need to follow the guidance in AR 190-11, Physical Security of Arms Ammunition, and Explosives (Jan 19)...
Small Arms: CCMCK Cautions
By | June 22, 2020
We told you about the dangers of firing close combat mission capability kit (CCMCK) rounds without a proper weapon’s cleaning in our story on Page 41 of PS 802 (Sep 19). Even after that warning, it seems some Soldiers aren’t...
Small Arms: Turning in Parts? Check SMR Codes
By | June 19, 2020
This article initially appeared in PS 787 (Jun 18), p. 39. Pay attention to the SMR codes when you turn in unserviceable Class IX small arms repair parts. Units are mistakenly turning in parts that should be disposed of at...
Small Arms: Bore, Ammo Dry for Firing
By | April 20, 2020
This Letter to the Editor initially appeared in PS 801 (Aug '19), p. 35. Dear Editor, PS has repeatedly emphasized the importance of running a cleaning or clearing rod through a weapon’s barrel before firing to make sure...
Small Arms: Degreasing and SFL Go Hand-In-Hand
By | April 16, 2020
This article initially appeared in PS 792, pages 36-37. Solid film lubricant (SFL) is a powerful tool for fighting corrosion in small arms. When a weapon’s protective coating wears off, SFL comes to the rescue. But you...
ARSS: Finding a Fix for Wall Cracks
By | March 30, 2020
Photo courtesy of TACOM The middle shelter wall in the Armament Repair Shop Set (ARSS) was sealed and painted by the manufacturer to prevent generator fumes from entering the ARSS work area. But the wall was also designed to...
Small Arms: Give Weapons a Fighting Chance
By | Feb. 27, 2020
TMs are free. Armorers can order as many as they need. Every unit should have a pubs clerk and armorers should make a point to find out who it is. Give the pubs clerk a list of the TMs you need and within minutes the order...
Small Arms: Weapon Cleaning Kits May Be Cheaper by the Piece
By | Feb. 21, 2020
Dear Editor, I wanted to share with other PS readers the initiative of one of my high-speed NCOs, SGT Logan Thomas. He created a weapons cleaning kit calculator in Excel. His spreadsheet compares the cost of cleaning kits to...
Small Arms: Secure Weapons Rack with the Right Locks
By | Jan. 10, 2020
When it comes to securing valuables, there are many locks to choose from. Just make sure you’re using the right ones to lock up the weapons racks in your unit’s arms room. To prevent potential problems, use the authorized...
Small Arms: Gaging Variance for Annual Services
By | Dec. 18, 2019
Photo by Capt. Monika ComeauxLet’s address a frequently asked question: Is a 10-percent variance allowed on small arms weapon services, which include annual gaging? The answer is YES, although there's been some debate...
Small Arms: Don't Mix & Match your Red/Yellow BFAs
By | Nov. 18, 2019
Dear Editor, I'm writing to raise awareness of an issue we’re noticing with the blank firing adapters or BFAs. Soldiers are using the red and yellow BFAs interchangeably and this leads to cycling problems when firing and...
Small Arms: Proper Handling of Malfunctions
By | Nov. 18, 2019
Soldiers,Some of you aren’t taking the individual and crew-served weapon’s basic issue items (BII) with you when you go to the field or the range. Bad idea!All weapons from .50-cal and below have BII. The BII is used to put...